Last year, many families across the U.S. chose to stay home and go without their Thanksgiving and other holiday traditions to limit the spread of coronavirus. But for some, a minimal holiday season brought new traditions and menus, such as hosting a 'Friendsgiving' or celebrating solo. What can you do to make the holiday season extra special this year – both on and off the table? And what are some easy, but delicious recipes for those who may be hosting for the first time? Our panel of cooking and hosting experts answer those questions and more.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

When cities shut down at the start of the pandemic, streets were emptier. There was more speeding, more drinking and driving, and less seatbelt-wearing. Deaths and serious injuries spiked for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.And it didn't stop once cities reopened. The first half of 2021 had the largest six-month jump in traffic fatalities on record. City leaders and advocates hope the infrastructure bill will help strengthen safety policies.What's causing this spike in traffic deaths and what's being done to stop it?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In July 2019, Rax King published an essay about Food Network Star Guy Fieri. The so-called mayor of Flavortown is known for his bleached hair, bowling shirts, and rhyming exclamations ("so much salami, call my mommy").King wrote about how Fieri's unadulterated tackiness was the perfect balm to help her move on from her ex-husband — a preppy, uptight, anti-Guy kind of guy.That essay went viral. King's followed it with her new book, a collection of essays that extol the benefits of what the subtitle calls "the worst culture we have to offer." These supposedly include things like "The Jersey Shore," The Cheesecake Factory, and the band Creed. King argues that guilty pleasures shouldn't make us feel guilty at all, but are where we find the most joy. They help us connect with each other, without surroundings that demand we play it cool.We talk about King's book and what guilty pleasures are all about. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Kyle Rittenhouse has been acquitted of all charges in a criminal trial that's underscored deep divides over gun rights, vigilantism, and racial justice protests.And throughout the trial, Judge Bruce Schroeder has garnered a lot of attention.The trial has raised tough questions about judges — who gets to be one, how they're assigned cases, how they're appointed, and how they're removed.A former judge and a legal expert answer your questions. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The 12 jurors charged with deciding the verdict in the case of Kyle Rittenhouse began deliberations Tuesday morning.Eighty percent of Americans 12 and over have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, some 62 million Americans remain completely unvaccinated.Meanwhile, tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka have added their voices to a chorus of concern over the fate of fellow player Peng Shuai, who's now missing after accusing China's former vice-premier of sexual assault.A missile test conducted by Russia destroyed a satellite and created a cloud of space debris, forcing astronauts in the International Space Station to take shelter. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.